BENGALURU: It’s Mahila Raj in the state. For the first time Karnataka is set to have a woman to head its police force and the bureaucracy with state government appointing K Ratna Prabha as the Chief Secretary on Tuesday. The 1981 batch IAS officer is set to succeed Subhash Chandra Khuntia, who is set to retire on November 30.
Ratna Prabha’s appointment comes just a few weeks after Neelamani N Raju took charge as the Karnataka police chief. The entire administrative machinery of the state is now under the helm of women.
Born in a family of achievers - her father was an IAS officer, mother a doctor while one of her brothers too is an IAS officer - Ratna Prabha was influenced by the hard work and commitment of her parents towards their work. She is married to K Vidyasagar, also an IAS officer from Andhra Pradesh. She will be the third woman to become Chief Secretary after Teresa Bhattacharya in 2000 and Malathi Das in 2006.
Ratna Prabha was initially posted as Assistant Commissioner in Bidar, 32 years ago. Known for her administrative acumen, Prabha played a major role in formulating the new Industrial policy during her stint as the Additional Chief Secretary in Industries and Commerce department. She also received huge appreciation for the success of Global Investors Meet 2016.
CM congratulates Prabha
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah tweeted: Congratulations to @Ratnaprabha_IAS the new Chief Secretary of the state. Karnataka’s admin (civil & police) is now headed by two women.